The name of the upcoming event Chroma Exploda is derived from the Greek word chromatic, which means color, and a spiced up version of the word explosion.

"I was trying to think of a catchy title," professor of art Justin Henry Miller said. "I wanted something with color in it, so chroma or chromatic was our word for color. I just wanted something to sort of roll off the tongue and rhyme with chroma. So rather than 'chromatic explosion' or something like that, I just went with exploda to kind of rhyme with chroma. Coming up with a title for a show is actually a little harder than one might think. It was the best I could come up with at a short notice."

Chroma Exploda is an art exhibit being hosted at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus that will feature abstract, colorful pieces. The event, proposed by Miller, is a bright exhibit that features many colors.

"If you come over to see the show it will make more sense," gallery coordinator Kristin Nowlin said. "Some of the colors are really in your face."

Chroma Exploda, which is partially supported by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council, will feature 35 paintings from five different artists. The artists featured in the exhibit are Molly Briggs, Chris Kahler, Martina Nehrling, Renee Robbins from the Chicago, Ill., area, and Jackie Tileston from St. Louis.

"When you're trying to put a show together, especially a group show, you're sort of trying to look for a theme," Miller said. "One of the things I thought would be fun to do would be a theme of color. That's why the show is called Chroma Exploda. You can imagine lots of bright, vibrant colors. I sought out some of the artists that I've dealt with where color is a very important aspect of their work."

The featured works don't seem to follow any type of pattern or formula, and the artists' styles vary.

"I specifically chose five artists, like Molly Briggs for example. Her stuff has some landscape elements and things that are pretty recognizable," Miller said. "Then you move to some other artists, there's things that are abstract but definitely remind you of things from botany or biology. Then you end with some artists that their stuff looks very abstract, like it's almost non-objective."

Miller said that he mainly wanted to show art that most people in the Southeast Missouri area may not get to see on a regular basis.

"I myself had a rural upbringing," Miller said. "I just didn't have the opportunity to be exposed to some contemporary, abstract painting, so that was kind of my goal. I wanted it to be something that is very indicative of what's going on in contemporary art and expose both students and the community to some art they may otherwise not get the opportunity to see."

Chroma Exploda will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The exhibit will open on Sept. 6 and remain on display until Sept. 26 at the River Campus Art Gallery. Briggs and Robbins will also be at the exhibit on Sept. 6 to talk about the paintings from 4-5 p.m., and a reception will follow from 5-7 p.m.